Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-08

why the REV. Dr. Miss. nss,ssed ats
Charge.

The coners gstion Of the Protestant Epls-
copal Church Of tie Reformation. at NO.
130 stanton street, are greatiy troubled oser
the action Of their pastor, the Rev. Dr, =.
Il. Miles. Last sunday evening be au-
pounced to his congregation thai be had re-
signed the pasiofate because the trustees oil
lhe church bad ordered sbata cross, the gift
Of an anopy Nous benefactor, should be re-
moved fEom the altar, where II had been
placed the Christmas-dsy previous. The
ladies' Of the congregation are especially ex-
creiseu over the prospect OF parting with
him, and one OF them assured a 1sBfes re-
porter yesterday that when those who at
tended church last Sunday evening realized
the calamity which had befalIen them there
was not {" dry tear IN the house.
The tenement district surrounding the
church was d splendid field Tor missionary
effort three years ago, and Dc. Miles's ef'
forts, seconded by those OF bis wife, have
resulted in converting very. small aud Ia.
differ, Mt body OF worshippers into a large
aud stirring congregation. some GOO In num-
Der. A new church building to a-comfno-
date them was erected on the site OF the old
one, and the troubles which now weisb
down the congregation spriDg from the
conditions under which this improvement
was accomplished. The lot was bequeathed
for church purposes by Stuart Brown near
II sixty years ago. and the tive trustees OF
the property were charged 10 allow no
ritualistic features In the services conduct.
ed IN The church. In their opinion the'
presence on the altar VI a brass cross some
two feet In height was violation OF the
conditions OF the trust and they ordered II
removed, with tue result already stated.
The congregation almost unanimously
sustain the pastor, and declare that the In
noyatlon Is not OF the High Church order.
"Three years ago." said young lady who
Is q member OF the church, 1--WE didn'tany
of US know whether we were Methodists,
Presbyterjans, Unitarians, Catholics, or
Episcopalians, and II that ISN'T altogether
too Low Church I'd Ike to know 1t. Or.
Miles has taught us what Episcopallanism
is. and we know that cross on the altar Isn't
n Bit ritualstic. Yes; aud, he has started
Bible-classes and Sunday school with 200
scholars, and q Kindergarten, and don't
know what we are going to do without
him. He's a medical doctor as well as
minister, and he was always ready TO attend
The sick for nothing. We don't want 10 be
HIGH Church; but we'd rather be High
Church with DIR. Miles than Low Church
with anybody else.
1.-THE real cause OF the trouble" this lady
continued, sis dislike which some mem
btrs of the old congregation and one OF
the trustees feel toward DR.. Miles. When
he was appointed to the church these peo.
pie left and started services and SUNDAY
school in the Golden. Rule Hall, aud
guess they Just watched for an opportu-
nifty TO attack DIR. Miles and seized upon
this cross affair as the first that offered.
II you'll look at the church building you'll
find that there are two crosses on top oil
The IOof and two more Ia the stained-giass
windows. III cross il violation OF the
conditions under which the church Is
built, why did they put four Of them In the
front Of the building, right where every
one can see tbemY"
The reporter called upon DR.. Miles, VINO
proved very uneommnpicstive on the sub
Iect OF lis resignation and IT'S cause. lie
pointed with pride to the flourishng con-
dition OF bis church. and expressed regret
that a cfanee should take place just as he
had perfected the machinery, which had
been working so smoothly and With
such good results. He acknowledged
that the trustees OF the church had the
legal right TO insist upon the re-
mOful VI tue CIUN,, Uut utktu tute
their action was not In accord with
church methods now in vogue. The
trustees, In his opinion, should have con-
troll only over the financial affairs OF the
church, and In the event OF features obiec-
ticnable to them arising In the service.
should report tbe same TO the bishop. lie
binted that compromise OF the difficulty
might be possible, but declined firmly 10
state whether or not the placing OF the cross
upon The altar or the reference OF the mat
ter Tor decision TO Bishop Potter would De
necessary condition 10 withdrawal OF
bis RESIGNATION.
Benjamin C.. Wetmore. one OF the trus-
tees, was seen in bis law office al No.
Nassau street. He said that Dr.
Miles's resignation was surprise
to him. IL was not a matter OF
public interest, be thought, but he did not
mJDd saying that the trustees had simply
performed their duty as such in ordering
the removal OF the cross from the altar.
The terms of the will OF Stuart Brown,
rigid Low ChurchmaD, weIe unmistakabie
In declaring that nothing akin TO ritualism
should be allowed IN the church service.
"we simply did our duties as trustees"
Mr.. Wetmore added. cit Is q pity that
DR.. Miles Is going. lie has been working
very comfortably fortbree years without a
cross, and don't see why he can't go on
working without one."